CRP is the USDA's single-largest, most effective environmental program. Producers enroll in CRP and plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve water quality, control soil erosion and enhance habitats for waterfowl and wildlife. In return, USDA provides producers with annual rental payments. CRP contract duration is from 10 to 15 years.

ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to help farmers and ranchers repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters and to help put in place methods for water conservation during severe drought.

GRP is a voluntary conservation program that emphasizes support for working grazing operations, enhancement of plant and animal biodiversity and protection of grassland under threat of conversion to other uses.

NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses, or prevents crop planting. Eligible crops include commercial crops and other agricultural commodities produced for food or fiber for which the catastrophic level of crop insurance is not available.

LFP provides financial assistance to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or is planted specifically for grazing. The grazing losses must be due to a qualifying drought condition during the normal grazing period for the county. LFP also provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses on rangeland managed by a federal agency if the eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a qualifying fire.

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides financial assistance to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather. In addition, LIP covers attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, including wolves and avian predators.

ELAP provides emergency relief to producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish. Covers losses from disaster such as adverse weather or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary, not adequately covered by any other disaster program.

The MPP-Dairy is a voluntary risk management program that offers production to diary producers when the difference between the all milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

Farm Loan Programs

FSA makes and guarantees loans to farmers who are temporarily unable to obtain private commercial credit. Under the guaranteed loan program, FSA guarantees loans made by commercial agricultural lenders up to 95 percent of any loss.

The Agency targets a portion of its loan funds to minorities and women farmers and ranchers. These targeted funds are not a program type; rather it distinguishes a specific funding source, which is known as Socially Disadvantaged Applicants (SDA). SDA’s include women, African-Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Hispanics, Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The loan process and all loan requirements are identical for SDA applicants to those for non-SDA applicants. In FY 2014, Alabama loans exceeded $26.1 million